Refrigerating system



- c. G. KEETON REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed July so, 1921 4 SheetsS heet z IA'VIENTO z 62 #662022.

' A 77mm EY 7 May 5, 1925.

C. G. KEETON REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed July 30, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR A TZ'ORA'EY May' 5, 1925.

C. G. KEETON REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed July 50, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INIIENTOR C cal G/feeion.

A TTORA E Y.

Patented May 1925'.

UNITED STATES CECIL G. KEETON, JACKSON, MISSOURI.

- 'REFR-IGERATING SYSTEM.

Application filed July 30,1921. Serial Nor 185,553.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CECIL G. KEETON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county 'of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Systems; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a system of refrigeration in which the circulation of the refrigerant in the system may be maintained by the thermal expansion of the refrigerant in contra-distinction to those systems which depend upon mechanical compression, it being one of the objects of my invention to dispense with the necessity of employing compressors, mechanical exhausters, pumps and the like.

The invention includes means actuated in y I responseto variations in temperature within the heat generating source and within the evaporating zone for intermittently causing a counterfiow of the refrigerant within certain parts of the apparatus, the refrigerant being I alternately absorbed and liberated within a thermal generator employed in the system for inducing the. flow of therefrigerant through the circuit.

The peculiarly novel construction of certain of the specific details embodied in my invention will be apparent by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigeration system installation constructed in accordance with my invention.-

Fig. 2 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of a refrigerating system, the system being illustrated more or less diagrammatically in order to disclose the circuit including the essential elements.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the thermal generator.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing part of the generator and part of the heat generating unit.

Fig. 5 is a slightly modified form of-generator.

Fig. .6 is an enlarged detail view of part of the thermostat.

Fig.7 is an elevational view of the thermostatically controlled circuit breaker and maker in normal position.

Fig. 7 A is a similar view showing the inovable contact leaving the fixed contact.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the movable contact defiected by a change in temperature. i

Fig. 7 is a like view showing the movable contact deflected and moving from the-fixed contact, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of damper.

The generator casing 1 is shown as substantially cylindrical having a constricted top 2, from which projects an escape flue or stack 3. The bottom of the cylindrical casing 1 is provided with\a n air inlet opening 4-. normally closed by a damper consisting of a disk 5 on a pivoted lever 6 having an upstanding armature arm 7 adapted to be actuated by a magnet 8 in an electric circuit consisting of conductor wires 9 and 10. The wire 9 passes through the magnet 8 and is connected to a binding post 11 of an electric heater consisting of the upstanding posts 12 and the resistance wires 13. One end of the electric heater is provided with a binding post 14 to which the wire 10 is connected so that the circuit may be completed through the magnet 8 and through the electric heater. y

The electric heater is contained in a generating tank 15 within the casing 1 and said tank is formed with a plurality of angular corrugations to provide the maximum radiating surface for the air passing through the casing 1, the interior of the generating tank enclosing a cup-shaped baffle wall 16 so that the air will pass through the spaces 17 and 1S on'the interior and exterior of the generating chamber when the damper 5 uncovers the opening 4.

The generating chamber 15 is adapted to liberate the refrigerant when the heater is Leading from the generator chamber'15;

is a pipe 19, having an outwardly opening check valve 20 therein, the pipe 19 communicating with a drum or chamber 21, which constitutes a moisture separator.

The moisture separator is shown as substantially cylindrical, having a plurality of spaced concavo-convex batfies arranged in pairs consisting of the members 22 and 23. All of the members 22 are provided with central openings 24 and peripheral openings 22', and all of the members 23 are imperforate except for the central opening 25. Therefore, the vapor passing through pipe 5 will enter the bottom of the moisture separator, passing toward the perimeter of the separator, through the openings 22, then toward the center of the separator, through the openings 25, then again toward the perimeter to the openings 22 of the next batlle so that the refrigerant traverses a tortuous path, separating the moisture or a major portion of it so that it may drop back into the pipe 19 above the valve 20, by-passing it through the pipe 26 into the generator 15, as shown in Fig. 2.

The refrigerant, which may consist of ammonia in a relatively dry state, passes through the top of the moisture separator into a pipe 27 and into the condenser coils 28, connected at the top to a receiving drum 29 and discharging into a discharge drum 30. The coils are surrounded by water contained in a tank having a corrugated wall 31 in a casing 32, the spaces 33 of which are open to atmosphere at the top and bottom so that the air may pass through the spaces or lines to carry off the heat from the condenser coils, the circulation being induced by the fact that the top of the condenser casing 32 is provided with a flue 32 connected to the flue 3 of the casing l so that induced circulation will be insured.

The bottom drum of the condenser discharges into a pipe 34 having an outwardlyopening check valve 35 therein, the

pipe 34 discharging into a receiver 36 which is connected to a cooling box 36' through the pipe 37 and expansion valve 37. The cooling box surrounds a coolingchamber 38, in which may be placed liquid containing pans 38' to provide ice for table use and the like, it'being understood that the pans 38' can be divided so that small blocks of ice can be formed if desired.

The chamber 36, of course, receives the refrigerant in the form of a liquid because the gas or vapor entering the condenser will be absorbed by the liquid before it passes into the receiver 36 and only a small amount of evaporation will take place in chamber 36'. The balance of the liquid will pass through the pipe 39 at the top of the cooling box 36 into the evaporator coils 40, surrounded by a brine tank consisting of the corrugated. casing.41 and contained within the cooling box or refrigerator casing 42. The evaporator coils 40'discharge into the pipe 27, past the check valve 42, which is between the drum 29 and the/coil 40 so that when the refrigerant is flowing from the generator to the condenser, the valve 42 will be closed but when the generator 15 is acting as a receiver for the vaporized refrigerant, the valve 42 will open, permitting the flow from the evaporator coils only in one direction.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the maximum heat generating surface is provided within a minimum space by providing the tortuous passage 43 formed by thewalls 44 and 45 so that a zigzag passage is formed about the center of the generator and that the heating element conforms'to this space, as will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 2.

The action of the heat generator is intimate and is under the control of a thermostat consisting of a bulb 46 in the top of the generator and preferably containing ether. The bulb 46 communicates with a pipe 47, discharging into a flat yielding U- tube 48, best shown in Fig. 6 and closed at one end as at 49. The U-tube 48 carries an outstanding lip 50 provided with a slot 51 M oted at 55 to the bracket 56 within the refrigerator. The elbow lever is provided with a lateral arm 57 consisting of bars 58 and 59, also having different co-efficients of expansion and the arm 57, on account of the difference in .co-efficients of expansion, will, under proper temperature conditions, slightly bend or curl, as shown in Fig. 7 and 7 and since the arm 57 constitutes a movable contact for interrupting the circuit passing through the wire 9, there will be varying degrees of time between the openings and closing of the circuit under the thermostat, the arm 57 being under the control of the variations in temperature in the refrigerator.

The fixed contact 60. is part of the circuit maker and breaker in the wire 9 so that whenever the movable contact moves off the fixed contact 60', the circuit will be broken, causing the heater to be de-energize'd and as the magnetis in series with the heater, the magnet will also become de-energized, allowing the magnet to drop, uncovering the opening4 and permitting air to rush through the casing l to cool off the generator because a vacuum therein and induce a flow of vapor from the evaporator past the condenser, through the moisture separator into the pipe 19 above the check valve 20 into the pipe 26 and into the liquid' containe'd within the chamber 15-. The liquid, having an afiinity for the gas, will absorb many' times its own volume of gas, and thereby inducing a return'fiow or counter-flow of'the gas alternatingwith the forward flow of the gas 5 generator when heat is The thermostatic medium or ether in'the bulb 46 will cause the U-tube 48 'to expand due to a rise in temperature in the chamber a given amount for a given temperature but this will be compensated for by the variations in temperature in therefrigerator so that if the temperature in the refrigerator is relatively low, themovable contact'will move on and off the fixed contact 60 with greater rapidity than when the temperature is high, the rap-id making and breaking of the circuit maintaining a uniform temperature in the refrigerator-or cooling chamber. Therefore, when the'temperature in the refrigerator is low enough, the cycles of refrigeration will be shorter but when the temperature rises, the cycleswill be longer to restore the required low temperaturein the refrigerator or casing for the evaporator coil.

It will be apparent that when the generator is operating to liberate the refrigerant ammonia will pass through pipe 19 into the moisture separator and any tendency to pass into the pipe 26 will be opposed by the fact that the pipe 26 is liquid sealed at, the bottom and since the gas will follow the path of least resistance, it avill pass through the moistureseparator and the pipe 27, through the condenser into the receiver 36 and then through the cooling box 36 into the evaporator coils but it will not pass back into the pipe 27 until the pressure in pipe 27 is less than the pressure in the evaporator coils andthis is brought about by the cooling generatonereating-partial vacuum to draw the refrigerant back into the volume of liquid contained in the generator, it being understood that at no time is the generator devoid of liquid.

It will be observed that the construction shown in Fig. -1 is for an electrically heated generator whereas in Figs.'5 and 8 I have shown means whereby an oil, gas, or other ing 4' is adapted to be closed by a damper burner may be used. 'The construction in Fig. 5 differs from the construction heretofore described principally in that the open- 61 on a rock shaft 62-,- when the damper is swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. \Vhenthedamper 61 assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig, 5, the opening will be uncovered so that heat from the burner 62 may/contact with the generatorcoils and beat them. :The

circuit, including the magnet 8', will be like that shown in'Fig. 2 except that there is no the medium of a spring 68. When the magnet attracts the armature 63, the arm 66 will be pulled toward it, swinging the spring 68 to the right of the pivotal center 69 of the arm 67 and causing the dampen to assume the position shown in dotted linesv in Figs. 5 and 8. When the magnet 8 is de-energized, per

'mitting the armature 63 to be retracted therefrom by the spring 64, the spring will have the position shown in Fig. 8, pulling down on the arm 67 and, therefore, swing the damper 61 in a position shown in full lines in Figs. 5 and 8, the damper mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 8 being merely a modified construction to accommodate for an oil or similar burner.

By reference to Fig. 5 it will beseen that when the damper is in the dotted position, the heat generated from the burner 62 will pass through the by-pass flue 70, having the same effect on the generator as is accomplished when the electric heater is de-energized, as explained inconnection with the preferred form of the invention. It will also be apparent that when the damper is in the dotted line'position shown in Fig. 5,'air may freely pass through the opening 71 in the casing 1 and opening 72 in the damper and flow over the generator to cool the refrigerant therein and create the necessary suction of vacuum'to induce a counter-flow of the vapor back into the generator which then becomes a receiver to absorb the refrigerant.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the cycles of the refrigerating system .may intermittently take place and alternately operate at varying intervals dependent upon the temperature Within the refrigerator proper or what is commonly termed the ice boX that the flow of the refrigerant in either direction will be in response to variations in temperature in the generator so that the necessity for employing pumps, ex 7 hausters and the like will be eliminated, and

that the device is simple in construction,

eliminating to a large extent objectionable valve springs and the like,.u sually found in refrigerator systems.

It will be apparent by reference to Fig. 3 that thewalls 44 and 45 of thegenerator" are formed with zig-zag corrugations; that is, the corrugations are formed on acute angles, and that they are spaced apart to provide a corresponding chamber 43 which will receive the refrigerant in the liquid phase'in a relatively thin film or. column so that a relatively high heat penetration for the refrigerant will be effected. The arrangement of the walls 44 and 45 is an im portant feature of my invention because it permits the maximum. radiation, both for heat and for cold, with the minimum amount of refrigerant. Therefore, the device will be considerably more sensitive to heat and cold than would be possible if a relatively thick volume were contained in the generator.

Another advantage is that the maximum radiating surface is provided in a minimum space and this feature, so far as I know, in connection with refrigerating apparatus, is novel.

Attention is called to the fact that the liquid capacity of the generator is relatively small while the heat capacity of the burner is relatively great; therefore, the liquid in the generator will be quickly heated when the burner is turned on and refrigerant will be very quickly liberated, it being an important feature of the invention to provide the generator of relatively small capacity with a maximum heat radiating surface and to supply a maximum heat from the burner so that the generator will act as nearl like a flash boiler as is possible.

With this co'nstruction the system will be very sensitive; that is, it will operate quickly, whereas all absorption systems of which I have knowledge have the disadvantage that they require a considerable period of time after the burner is ignited or the heat applied before the refrigeration takes place.

\Vith my invention in actual practice refrigeration can take place within a very few minutes after the heat is applied. This I consider an important step'in advance of known systems embodying the generic principle incorporated in my invention."

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent. is:

1. A refrigerating system comprising a thermal generator consisting of a liquid coneiner having corrugated walls to provide the maximum radiating surface, a valved pipe leading from the chamber, a by-pass pipe connected to the valved pipe beyond the valve and communicating with the liquid container, a moisture separator connected to the valved pipe beyond the valve, a condenser, a conduit connecting the condenser and moisture separator, a receiver, a valved pipe connecting the condenser with the receiver, an evaporator coil connected to the receiver at one end and communicating at the other end with the pipe which connects the moisture separator to the condenser, a check valve in the evaporator coil opening in the direction of the moisture separator, a heater for the chamber, and means operable in response to changes in ten'iperature within the chamber for causing the heater to become effective and ineffective and for causing air to cool the chamber when the heater is ineffective.

2. A refrigerating system comprising a vapor generator consisting of a refrigerant liquid-containing chamber, a casing about the same, means for admitting air to the easing to cool the chamber, means alternately operable with the first named means for heating the chamber, a condenser connected to the chamber, a receiver connected to the condenser, an evaporator coil connected to the receiver, means for leading the vapor back into the chamber, and means operable in response to variations in temperature within the chamber to alternately render the two first named means effective and inefi'ective.

3. In a. refrigerating system comprising a thermal generator of relatively small capacity, a heater of relatively large capacity, the generator consisting of a refrigerant, liquid-containing chamber, a casing about the same, means for admitting air to the casing to cool the chamber, means alternately operable with the first named means for admitting heat to the chamber,-

a condenser connected to the chamber, a receiver connected to the condenser, an evaporator coil connected to the receiver, means for leading the vapor back into the chamber, and means operable in response to variations in temperature within the chamber to alternately render the two firstnamed means effective and ineffective.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CECIL G. KEETON. 

